By Raïssa Robles
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines President Socrates Villegas issued this morning a statement following calls by two fellow bishops for President Benigno Aquino III to resign.
Speaking for the CBCP, the church policy-making body consisting of all Philippine bishops, Archbishop Villegas said:
“Before we have all the facts, however, the CBCP cannot morally join in the calls for his resignation, leaving this decision to his humble and prayerful discernment of his capacity to lead and the support he has not only from officials of government but from members of Philippine society.”
Please recall that three years ago,Villegas had demanded that Aquino step down over the latter’s support of the Reproductive Health Law. He said “contraception is corruption.” You can read my commentary about it here.
This time, however, Villegas takes on a more sober, more cautionary tone. You can read his full statement below:
There are calls for the resignation of the President in the wake of the outrage and grief over the sad fate of the “Fallen 44”, the gallant SAF uniformed men who lost their lives at Mamasapano. Some members of the Philippine Catholic hierarchy have echoed this call. For the present time, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has not arrived at a collective position. Whether or not the President should resign and yield the powers of his high office to a lawful successor is a judgment that he must make, after prayerful discernment, and in all humility and judiciousness.
We do not yet have all the facts, however. In fact, we have been given conflicting accounts of what really happened. But one thing should be clear: We must not lay the blame on those who already paid the ultimate sacrifice by laying down their lives for they were never in a position to command but, true to the culture of the police and of the military, stood ready to receive orders.
But we must get at the facts. That is why the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines fully supports and endorses the creation of a credible Truth Commission or a Fact-Finding Body. Any inquiry by a police body, such as a Board of Inquiry, no matter how veridical its findings, will be weighed down by lingering doubts about its preparedness to point to liability, no matter how high up the chain of command attribution must go! Subordinate officers, whether in the police or in the military, after all seldom point accusingly at superiors! An investigation by Congress is likewise compromised by the political allegiances of most of its members.
The CBCP therefore strongly suggests that the members of any such committee, though appointed by the President, must be endorsed by and acceptable to the public, recognized for their probity, acknowledged for their truthfulness and characterized by their boldness. The vocal advocates for the passage of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law are not credible nominees because they have made it exceedingly clear that they would not like the sad incident to derail the process of the enactment of the BBL. It is as important that the hearings of the body be open to all, and that its findings be available to all. Nothing is served by secrecy
The President of the Republic, the CBCP prays, should have learned from this regrettable tragedy that transparency and forthrightness are what are expected of him at all times. It will serve him well to listen to sound advice and counsel from truly wise, and not from those eager to curry favor! He has been roundly criticized for having absented himself at the arrival honors for the mortal remains of our heroes. He will, in the future, we hope, make better balanced choices and conduct himself as his high office demands. We pray that in all humility he would willingly accept just criticism rather than have his spokespersons concoct excuses at every turn.
Before we have all the facts, however, the CBCP cannot morally join in the calls for his resignation, leaving this decision to his humble and prayerful discernment of his capacity to lead and the support he has not only from officials of government but from members of Philippine society.
We entrust ourselves to God who has promised to heal our land if we turn back to him in prayer, penance and supplication.
February 4, 2015
+ SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS
Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan
CBCP President
Bing Garcia says
Socrates Villegas is stupid.
macspeed says
AGREED!!!
Also a HUDAS!!! Aup sya…
filipino_mom says
sawsaw pa more! i can only wonder why these people are still being given airtime. true, they have the right to be heard. we have, after all, the right to free speech. but please, lets not give them any reason to delude themselves that they have any influence in state affairs. its about time that the state would ignore them and be a true secular state. nakakagulo lang sila, eh.
mekaniko says
Hi Raissa, pls find hereunder my reaction (IN UPPER CASE) to the archbishop’s message…
Archbishop Villegas Message…
There are calls for the resignation of the President in the wake of the outrage and grief over the sad fate of the “Fallen 44″, the gallant SAF uniformed men who lost their lives at Mamasapano. Some members of the Philippine Catholic hierarchy have echoed this call.
LET THE SAID “MEMBERS OF THE HIERARCHY” BE PROPERLY IDENTIFIED, AND FORMALLY COME UP WITH THEIR RATIONALE FOR THEIR DEMAND – AS ECHOED BY “HIS EMINENCE” – TO GIVE THE PUBLIC A CHANCE TO DISCERN – INDIVIDUALLY – AS TO HOW THEY WILL RESPOND.
AS ONE OF THE PUBLIC, I THINK THAT TIMES HAVE NOW CHANGED; WHEREAS BEFORE, I, TAKE IN “HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER” WHAT BISHOPS PRESCRIBE, BUT BECAUSE OF THE DISAGREEABLE ACTUATIONS OF SOME OF THEM (LIKE KOWTOWING TO THE LIKES OF NAPOLES – TELL ME I’M WRONG) I TAKE SUCH DECREES WITH A GRAIN OF SALT, JUST LIKE THE TRADITIONAL POLITICIANS.
AND ALTHOUGH MY FAITH IN GOD, WHO IS THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT IS FIRM, I DON’T THINK I CAN SAY THIS OF THE BISHOPS…WHAT COMES TO MIND IS THIS: THE LOVE OF GOD AND LOVE OF THE WORLD ARE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE!
For the present time, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has not arrived at a collective position. Whether or not the President should resign and yield the powers of his high office to a lawful successor is a judgment that he must make, after prayerful discernment, and in all humility and judiciousness.
THIS IN MY VIEW IS SUCH A DISAPPOINTING DOUBLE TALK. ASIDE FROM THE BISHOPS, DOES “HIS EMINENCE” KNOW WHO THESE PEOPLE – I.E., THEIR RESPECTIVE BACKGROUNDS AND CREDIBILITY – DEMANDING THE RESIGNATION ARE? HAS HE COMPARED WHAT THEY ARE WITH WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS WITH RESPECT TO WORTH TO THE COUNTRY? HIS SECOND SENTENCE – IN MY OPINION – REVEALS ALREADY A PREJUDGEMENT.
We do not yet have all the facts, however. In fact, we have been given conflicting accounts of what really happened. But one thing should be clear: We must not lay the blame on those who already paid the ultimate sacrifice by laying down their lives for they were never in a position to command but, true to the culture of the police and of the military, stood ready to receive orders.
I NEVER HEARD ANYBODY BLAMING OUR HEROES.
But we must get at the facts. That is why the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines fully supports and endorses the creation of a credible Truth Commission or a Fact-Finding Body. Any inquiry by a police body, such as a Board of Inquiry, no matter how veridical its findings, will be weighed down by lingering doubts about its preparedness to point to liability, no matter how high up the chain of command attribution must go! Subordinate officers, whether in the police or in the military, after all seldom point accusingly at superiors! An investigation by Congress is likewise compromised by the political allegiances of most of its members.
AGAIN – IN MY VIEW – DOUBLE TALK. ALL FIVE SENTENCES PUT TOGETHER SUGGESTS PREJUDGMENT.
BUT I WILL GO FOR A TRUTH COMMISSION; AND YES, I ALSO WONDER WHY THE CBCP KEPT QUIET REGARDING THE TRUTH COMMISSION IN 2010.
The CBCP therefore strongly suggests that the members of any such committee, though appointed by the President, must be endorsed by and acceptable to the public, recognized for their probity, acknowledged for their truthfulness and characterized by their boldness.
AGREE! THIS DISQUALIFIES THE BISHOPS THAT I HAVE IN MIND.
The vocal advocates for the passage of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law are not credible nominees because they have made it exceedingly clear that they would not like the sad incident to derail the process of the enactment of the BBL. It is as important that the hearings of the body be open to all, and that its findings be available to all. Nothing is served by secrecy.
THESE SENTENCES MAKE ME WONDER; IS THE CBCP AGAINST THE BBL…EVEN IF THE LAWMAKERS MAKE SURE IT UNQUESTIONABLY COMPLIES WITH THE 1987 CONSTITUTION, AND HAS SUFFICIENT SAFEGUARDS TO SECURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE ENTIRE COUNTRY?
I AGREE TO MEETINGS OF “THE BODY” BEING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC; BUT, I’M ALSO CURIOUS IF CBCP MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
The President of the Republic, the CBCP prays, should have learned from this regrettable tragedy that transparency and forthrightness are what are expected of him at all times.
WELL, FROM THE WAY HE IS NOW BEING GANGED UPON (BY THE BISHOPS, THE LEFT, THE CORRUPT, THE PROSTITUTED PRESS, THE THIEVES AFFECTED BY HIS ANTI-CORRUPTION EFFORT, ETC., ETC.)…I’M SURE HE IS LEARNING A LOT.
It will serve him well to listen to sound advice and counsel from truly wise, and not from those eager to curry favor!
AGREE!
He has been roundly criticized for having absented himself at the arrival honors for the mortal remains of our heroes. He will, in the future, we hope, make better balanced choices and conduct himself as his high office demands.
AGREE! BUT ON SECOND THOUGHT, IT’S APPARENT THAT HE HAS TO BE THERE – AND I’M SURE HE WAS AWARE OF IT, BUT STILL HE DID NOT GO. COULD THERE HAVE BEEN A MORE COMPELLING REASON (OTHER THAN THE MITSUBISHI PLANT) THAT MADE HIM SKIP THE ARRIVAL HONORS FOR THE SLAIN HEROES?
We pray that in all humility he would willingly accept just criticism rather than have his spokespersons concoct excuses at every turn.
WHOA! WHAT A CHARGE. AND, AT EVERY TURN?
Before we have all the facts, however, the CBCP cannot morally join in the calls for his resignation, leaving this decision to his humble and prayerful discernment of his capacity to lead and the support he has not only from officials of government but from members of Philippine society.
I MUST BE DUMB, BUT I REALLY CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE CALL FOR HIM TO RESIGN. IS IT BECAUSE HE INVOLVED HIMSELF IN THE OPERATION TO NEUTRALIZE THE TERRORIST? IF SO, DOESN’T HE HAVE THE PREROGATIVE TO DO SUCH, AFTER ALL HE IS THE COUNTRY’S CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. IS IT BECAUSE HE IS VIEWED AS HAVING ORDERED THE ARREST? IF SO, I THINK IT IS WRONG BECAUSE IT IS THE COURT – ON THE STRENGTH OF AN ARREST WARRANT – THAT ORDERED IT, AND THE PRESIDENT BEING CEO IS MANDATED TO SEE TO IT THAT IT IS IMPLEMENTED.
IS IT BECAUSE HE IS BEING BLAMED FOR THE MASSACRE OF THE 55TH SAF POLICEMEN, OR THE NON-ARRIVAL OF REINFORCEMENTS? IF THIS IS SO, I FIND IT SUPERFLUOUS, BECAUSE EVEN IT IS GRANTED THAT THE PRESIDENT GOT INVOLVED BECAUSE OF HIS INTEREST IN THE PROJECT, I DON’T THINK THAT HIS INPUTS – IF EVER – WOULD BE SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO CAUSE A FAILURE BECAUSE, EVEN IF HE CAN SHOOT A GUN, HE DOESN’T HAVE THE PROPER MILITARY TRAINING FOR HIM TO INSIST ON HIS IDEAS. IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS, IT WOULD BE THE INPUTS OF THE EXPERTS THAT WOULD PREVAIL.
BLAMING THE PRESIDENT FOR THE MASSACRE IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULDN’T UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE IN MY DECADES OF INVOLVEMENT AS PART OF MANAGEMENT IN INDUSTRIAL PLANTS, I KNOW THAT THERE IS A LIMIT TO THE LEVEL OF ACCURACY THAT CAN BE MADE INTO A PLAN, AND IT’S NOT UNUSUAL THAT THINGS GO AFOUL WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING. AND WHAT I’M REFERRING TO HERE ARE STATIC SITUATIONS, WHERE ONLY INERT OBJECTS ARE INVOLVED. NOW TRANSPOSING THIS EXAMPLE TO A DYNAMIC SITUATION LIKE A BATTLEFIELD WHERE THERE WOULD BE ENEMIES (IN PLACE OF MACHINERY) WHOSE MOVES ARE UNPREDICTABLE, THE CHANCE OF FOUL-UPS WOULD RADICALLY INCREASE. A WAY TO COUNTER THIS KIND OF AN OCCURRENCE – TO MY MIND – WOULD BE A MORE THOROUGH IDENTIFICATION OF “CRITICAL SCENARIOS” FOR WHICH ACTION PLANS WOULD BE PREPARED. BUT DESPITE ALL OF THE JUDICIOUS PREPARATIONS, I BELIEVE THAT ALL BASES CANNOT BE COVERED, AND IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, SHOULD THINGS RUN AFOUL, SUCCESS OR FAILURE WOULD DEPEND NOW ON THE TACTICAL DECISION, OR JUDGMENT CALL, OF THE COMMANDER ON THE GROUND. AND AS I WRITE THIS, I WONDER WHETHER THERE HAS BEEN INCLUDED AS COMPONENT OF THE PLAN, A REALISTIC ASSESSMENT OF POSSIBLE CASUALTIES.
THERE ARE THOSE OF US WHO HAVE FAITH IN THE PRESIDENT. WE RECOGNIZE HE IS NOT PERFECT, AND ALSO PRONE TO MAKING MISTAKES. PERSONALLY, I DO NOT THINK AT ALL THAT THE PRESIDENT MEANT MALICE WITH RESPECT TO WHATEVER INVOLVEMENT HE HAD REGARDING THE “WOLVERINE OR EXODUS PROJECT.” I AM ALSO CONFIDENT OF THE SUPPORT FOR HIM OF A VAST MAJORITY OF THE PUBLIC WHO I’M SURE ARE WILLING TO GO OUT ONCE MORE TO THE STREETS, IF NEEDED, TO PROTECT NOT ONLY HIS INTEREST BUT OUR INTEREST – AND FUTURE AS WELL!
We entrust ourselves to God who has promised to heal our land if we turn back to him in prayer, penance and supplication.
I WILL – AND WILL ALSO CONVINCE MY FRIENDS TO – ALSO PRAY FOR THE BISHOPS.
February 4, 2015
+ SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS
Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan
CBCP President
raissa says
Thanks for coming over and joining in the discussions.
I must caution you, though, that sometimes the exchange gets very heated. Welcome to Cyber Plaza Miranda.
vander anievas says
great!
can’t say more..
BFD says
I think the overall plan was to STEALTHILY go in, shoot Marwan with a gun with a silencer, collect a sample or take the body as is, STEALTHILY get out into safety under cover of darkness….
However, Marwan was careful enough to lay a small bomb in or around the nipa hut he was staying so when it was tripped by the SAF 84th, it exploded and a firefight ensued.
They lost their element of stealth and cover of darkness and was swarmed by the BIFF/MILF combatants as per the narration of their intelligence officer.
macspeed says
This Fact Finding for this fallen 44 is not REQUIRED, THEY WERE KILLED ON WAR.
Fact Finding is a WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY for this matter…
What FACTS are they trying to discover??? Who ever gave the commands to get MARWAN is not even liable to be punished. The MISSION is dangerous and so what were the outcome, death of the 44 police, end of story. Next step>to pay the families their dues and salute to the new Heroes…
Fact Finding is required for Bribery and Corruptions with the current Case for Napoles, Jinggoy, Enrile, Bong and others….
vander anievas says
i agree and that was in my mind.
waste of time and money.
but a stage for grandstanding.
giving in to the kada utot of the critics is exasperating.
and yes, “Fact Finding is required for Bribery and Corruptions with the current Case….”
hindi kaya that TC is only a diversionary termite tactic…?
xander carreon says
i agree with macspeed.
IMHO
Bakit kailangan pang magsayang ng oras sa pag-alam sino ba ang may sala, sino ba nag utos ng operation?
Pwede namang itanong lang …ano ang operation, paano ang operation, nasunod ba ng tama ang operation?
Bakit kailangan pang itanong magkano pondo ng operation sa paghuli kay Marwan at sino nag release ng pondo?
Ano connection ng tanong na ito? Kung malaki ba ang pondo ng operation hind mamatay yung mga SAF?
Hindi ba dapat na lang asikasuhin ay usigin ang mga nakalaban ng SAF, instead na sisihin ang mga namuno or nag utos ng operation to capture Marwan?
David says
The CBCP is also a corrupt institution. Who do they think they are calling for a probe on the incident?
Even if we don’t have all the facts now, it’s obvious that the administration can’t be faulted for a bungled police operation. The PNP maybe. But are we not forgetting the fact that it was the MILF who fired at our police and it seems that they are not getting any flak while the President is getting all the tirades?
The solution is simple: go after those MILF/BIFF who killed members of the SAF force. The PNP-SAF were performing a legitimate police operation but they were met with gunfire. There’s no need to conduct a probe. It was a bungled operation because Purisima broke the chain of command. We already know these facts.
Excuse me, either Filipinos are just plain and simple dumb or just want a piece of the political power pie.
vander anievas says
we knew a lot of bungled operations before.
our forces elite or regular are prone to errors.
the enemies are more experienced to kill and armed better. not to mention their better position and familiarity to home base.
those power greedy pinoys are of course not dumb.
pls. bear in mind, may 2016 is just around the corner.
this event is being utilized as catapult.
who’s gonna benefit if this admin fails?
and the suvishops are ranting for the purdoy offerings.
tigang na tigang na ang appetite nila(sadyang binalbal ang pangungusap)…:)
filipino_mom says
does anyone here remember a few years ago, a group of soldiers were also deployed to mindanao, most of them fresh graduates. a bigger percentage of the group (mas marami pa sa 44) was also killed, mutilated, decapitated. where was the rage then?
vander anievas says
w/ all due respect.
this is pvc.
plastic.
the rage is artificial.
name all the players.
as clear as daylight in the mid-east summer.
the rage is for pnoy to step down.
nothing more.
right or wrong.
to save the queen bee.
Jun Mercado says
Yes… Only an Independent Probe can ferret truth… The smoke screen, cover up and finger pointing simply add fire to the outrage… And this administration does NOT know where the buck stops…
raissa says
Hi Fr. Jun, I would like to suggest that you are part of the probe.
Just to inform everyone, Fr. Jun was about to be appointed once by then Pres. Arroyo, i think to be part of the negotiations. He said yes on certain conditions. Pres. Arroyo took back offer.
He is one person who knows all sides of the conflict.
He can ensure the probe’s independence and credibility.
Also, Fr. Jun is well regarded by Muslims. He headed Notre Dame University’s Institute of Peace.
andrew lim says
er, Raissa you may want to reconsider your glowing recommendation of this cleric. He has a very vicious view of people with disabilities (the real ones) as well as those whose politics is different from his, ascribing to them the aforementioned disablilities.
Oblates missionary priest Fr. Eliseo “Jun” Mercado, a Mindanao peace advocate posted this in his Facebook: “Some experts claim that PNoy has ‘Nerd Personality disorder and Mild Autism’, he is psychologically not fit to govern the country, he should resign now before more and more people would die and suffer if another disaster strikes our country.
“He has his own world and at times or oftentimes this world is not in touch with the real world out there. (Those) close to the Aquino family has known this.
“There are people who exploit this reality and this made possible what we have been observing these past years…. DAP, Ouster of CJ Corona at all cost with the use of PDAF .. Reaction to Luneta massacre, Yolanda, and the botched Operation at Mamasapano that led to slaughter…
“I now believe this claim…. And I join my voice to the clamor asking for PNoy’s resignation and allow him to rest and privately live in his own world.”
From Ellen Tordesillas’ hysterical blog.
filipino_mom says
as an autism mom, i am deeply offended and enraged by this. my mom and my grandmother (RIP) knew him personally. now i want to meet him and give him the b*tchslapping that he deserves.
by the way, mr. jun mercado, if it wasn’t for autistics, you wouldn’t have your gadgets and the internet to make your ignorant, offensive remarks.
filipino_mom says
come to think of it, i’ll ask my mom to introduce me to him the next time i go home to cotabato.
macspeed says
Fr. Jun
You should be at the church continuously praying for PEACE, joining the Probe will not bring holistic results, no one will listen to you and you cannot point whose errors was that?
Bear in mind, you priest has to pray for PEACE to the Lord Almighty Allah or God. He may listen to you. But for us, layman, even if we pray for PEACE, we are not sure if we are being heard.
The 44 fallen soldiers, MRP says the dead are 64, so 20 of them are not soldiers, they are all equal creation of God, ALL of them deserves to be prayed for their REST IN PEACE.
Don’t let the HOOK of corruptions collared you, be strong against temptation. A lot of these people Gloria, Jinggoy, Bong, Enrile, Napoles and other CORRUPTORS of Peoples money only KNOWN to GOD are using the church to cover their SINS, please avoid them, God never sleeps, He made their deeds known and scattered abroad, so they may grief and ask forgiveness from God. You may pray for them but only God can forgive, no none on earth can forgive anybody sins, not even the Pope, he is also a creation of God. Only God forgives and you know that…
JGB says
Agree ako kay Macspeed, all 64 (or so) should be prayed for to RIP. Would have quickened national healing, instead of maintaining the distinction between the 44 and the 20, the status quo. Even Cardinal Tagle said so ( http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/669157/cardinal-tagle-urges-catholics-to-pray-for-fallen-saf-men-killers ) Kaya lang maintaining the the status quo is in the interest of the morally-corrupted priests and bishops to continue their abuse of the poor and their brown-nosing of the derrieres of the rich. Not all of them, to be fair, there are some good ones who practice what they preach.
Anton Mendoza says
Walang kahihiyan ang mga pari at obispo, may isang obispo na nanghihingi ng rolex watch sa isang nurse na nagtratrabaho sa canada.
vander anievas says
“And this administration does NOT know where the buck stops…”
so u know?
ang galing mo!
ok, ikaw na ang aming pres.
Edgar Lores says
What, CBCP? No condemnation of these members?
You, Socrates Villegas and all you holey bishops, read the Constitution:
Parekoy says
Tumpak!
jorge bernas says
C.B.C.P. Pres. Socrates Villegas sana pagsabihan mong manahimik ang iyong mga miyembro lalo na si Arguelles na tumanggap nang SUV at pera noong time ni GMA kahit lantaran ang katiwalian noon dahil lumalabas na paghihigante ang kanilang motibo sa paglantad nang kanilang mga kamalian noon at hindi maganda tingnan dahil lumalabas na binayaran sila o ginagamit o nagpagamit sa mga pulitikong tiwali at hindi solution ang ginagawa nila bagkus nagpapaDAGDAG sa GULO…Mag-isip isip muna bago mag comment/magreact nang Pnoy resign dahil hindi kanais nais dahil Pnoy is a Good and Trusted Leader of the Philippines…